The majority of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) continued with coaching ten months after onboarding, demonstrating the sustained value of the program despite initial skepticism from logic-driven academics
Program Scope: The program focused on the 12 members of the SLT—a diverse group of academics and professional services leaders who are typically time-poor and manage a wider team of 400 staff.
Cultural Ripple Effect: By improving the working culture and psychological safety within the SLT, the program sets a supportive and motivating tone for the entire Business School and its 400 employees.
Tailored Support Because the team comes from a variety of countries including Greece, America, and China, Kinhub provided a diverse selection of coaches to ensure the support was not a “one size fits all” approach.
The University of Exeter Business School onboarded Kinhub in June 2022 to support the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This initiative was part of a broader move within the Business School to develop a more supportive and motivating working culture.
The changes, instigated by the new Dean and Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor, focused on building psychological safety within the SLT and across the School. Exeter have been engaging in Kinhub’s leadership coaching program to support the personal development of the twelve members of the SLT.
The primary need was to instigate a shift in leadership behaviors and culture.
As part of the project to shift the working culture, the Dean followed a two-prong approach:
Change the structure and organization of the team.
Focus on the personal development of the senior leadership team through Kinhub’s coaching.
Profile: Well-regarded and experienced academics and professional services leaders.
Constraints: Typically time-poor and stretched across multiple priorities.
Experience: Few had previously received coaching.
Impact: The SLT leads a wider team of approximately 400 members of staff across the Business School.
Diversity: A diverse group in terms of age, ethnicity, and native language.
“Focusing on improving the working culture in leadership has a massive impact on the rest of the organisation because they set the tone for the entire university.”
— Ciara Eastell OBE, Professor of Practice
Many team members, being logic-driven academics, were initially skeptical of coaching. Given they were time-poor, there were questions regarding the value it would add against competing priorities. However, ten months later, the majority have continued seeing the coaches independently, showing the clear value offered.
Relationships between SLT members have become stronger with a higher level of trust. Conversations have become more open, allowing the team to discuss strengths, dynamics, and what is or isn’t working during sessions like away days.
Feedback indicates positive changes in work-life balance and increased confidence in leadership. Members have successfully moved through both work and personal challenges they had been dealing with.
The team is ethnically and gender-diverse, with members from countries such as Greece, America, and China. Because a “one size fits all” approach would not work, Kinhub provided a diverse selection of coaches to meet these specific cultural needs.
To find out how Kinhub can support your team, contact us via kinhub.com.
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